Corner bead applying apparatus



Nov. 11, 1958 R. c. LARRABEE CORNER BEAD APPLYING APPARATUS Fil ed March 9, 1955 Robe/f czar/am BY Amman ATTORNEY CORNER BEAD APPLYING APPARATUS Robert C. Larrabee, New Brighton, Minn.

Application March 9, 1955, Serial No. 493,129

6 Claims. (Cl. 1260) This invention relates to .an improvement in corner bead applying apparatus and deals particularly with a novel type of apparatus for applying a corner bead or plaster ground to a dry wall. Various types of corner beads have been produced for reinforcing the corner of a plaster covered wall and for forming a neat and trim appearance to the corner. There are two methods generally used for applying such a corner head. In some instances a thin coating of spackle or cement is applied to the corner joint of the dry wall and the bead is applied and adhered in place by this coating.

In other cases, the corner head is attached by nailing it to the dry wall by nails extending through the flanges of the corner bead and into the wall. In such arrange ments the flanges must be sufliciently long to permit nails to be inserted into the wall at points sufficiently spaced from the corner to enter both of the wall members. It

is common practice to form the dry wall corner by abut ting the end of one insulation panel to the surface of the other flush with the end of the other panel.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a tool which will cut and bend tongues of metal from the flanges of the corner bead and bend these flanges into the body of the wall without bending or distorting the remainder of the corner bead flanges. One of the difliculties in applying the corner bead to the wallwith nails lies in the fact that the flanges are distorted "as the nails are driven into place. By the use of my applying tool, tongues are bent into thewall without bending or distorting the adjoining areas of the flanges and the tool acts to hold the flanges in proper relation as the tongues are bent.

A further feature of the present invention resides, in the provision of a corner bead applying tool which includes an angular body designed to overlie the corner bead and extend longitudinally thereof. The tool provided with one or more pairs of crimping jaws designed to engage against the edge of the corner bead and to cut tongues therefrom, the tongues extending transversely of the flanges. The crimping jaws act to dig into the insulation panels and to bend the tongues into gripping relation with the insulation so as to anchor the corner bead in place. The body of the tool overlies the flanges of the corner bead to hold the bead from dis tortion.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a corner bead after attachment to the wall.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through a portion of the corner bead and wall showing the manner in which the tongues anchor the bead in place.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tool in open position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the tool showing the construction thereof. I

Figure 5 is a detailed view of one of the crimping aws.

Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a tool locator in the structure embodied in Figure 4.

ice

The wall corner is constructed in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In the particular construction illustrated, a vertical stud 10 is provided inwardly of the corner. A panel 11 of insulation material, plaster board, or other suitable plaster foundation is applied with the end edge 12 thereof flush with an edge 13 of the stud 10. A second panel 14 is applied with its end edge 15 flush with the outer edge 16 of the panel 11, the panel 14 extending at right angles to the panel 11. The corner bead A is applied to the corner to reinforce the same and to form a guide for the plastering operation. The corner bead A is provided in preferred form with a flange 17 and a flange 19 having an upwardly looped head .20 therebetween. The bead 20 extends outwardly from the corner sufficient so that the outer curved surface of the bead may serve as a guide in the plastering operation of both walls. Usually the plaster coating is quite thin and the coating is often only one-sixteenth to one-eighth inch in thickness on both walls.

As indicated in Figure 1, the flange 17 is provided with apertures 21 therethrough. The flange 19 is likewise provided with spaced apertures 22.

As' is indicated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the corner bead A is attachedto the wall by spaced tongues such as 23 bent from the flange 17 and similar tongues 24 bent from the flange 19. These tongues extend into the wall a distance suflicient to clinch the corner bead into the material forming the. panels so that it will be firmly held in place. Once in place, the plaster coating extends through the apertures 21 and 22 in the bead and into the apertures in the bead and panels formed by the tongues to even more firmly hold the corner bead in proper position.

The tool, by means of which the corner bead may be attached, is best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. The tool B includes an. elongated angular body 25 having an elongated flange 26 and a shorter flange 27. A groove 29 is provided between the inner surfaces of the flanges 26 and 27 to accommodate the outwardly looped head 20 of the corner bead or plaster ground A. Thus, in use the flanges 26 and 27 are designed to overlie the flanges 17 and 19 in surface contact therewith with the projecting bead 20 engaged in the groove 29.

The flanges 26 and 27 are provided with outwardly projecting ribs or flanges 30 and 31 at their end extremities. These outwardly directed flanges are usually rounded at their outer sides to provide elongated bearings extending throughout the length of the tool for the accommodation of pivots 32 and 33. The flange 30 is provided with longitudinally spaced notches 34 near opposite ends of the flange and the flange 31 is provided with opposed notches 35. These notches are designed to accommodate crimping levers which will be described in detail.

The notches 34 are designed to accommodate parallel crimping levers 36 which extend through the notches 34 and are connected by a connecting arm 37 which extends longitudinally of the body 25. A handle arm 39 extends from a point near the center of the connecting member 37 and the handle arm bends at a substantial angle at a point 40 spaced from the connecting member 37 to provide a handle extremity 41. The notches 35 of the flange or rib 31 accommodate vertically spaced crimping levers 42 which are connected by a vertical connecting member 43. A handle 44 is connected to a point near the center of the connecting member 43 and the handle 44 is bent at 45 to provide a handle extremity 46. The handle extremity 41 and 46 diverge apart in the open position of the crimping levers.

. The crimping levers 36 are each provided witha crimp- Patented Nov. 11, 1958 ihg l 47 ing a'curved inner face 49. The upper and lower surfaces of the crimping jaws are preferably parallel so that each jaw may cut a tongue from the fl ge 17- of the corner head A and h ad thi mea s. i clinching relation with the panel 11 when the tool is operated.

Ea of he cr mpinel 42 s alsc-ntev d d h n imp n l w .0. hav -a c rved. nne surtace L eign to u a t ns eht me l rQ h the fla ge of he rner hea A. ahdbre d he ton e int clinching rela- .tiQ w t he panel. 4-.

Theoperation of the tool l3v is believed clearly, under: stoo from. he e o n de r o In attaching the co er head. t; i mere y l ce v he assembled ner with the shorter flange overlying the panel 14 and the longer flange, overlyipg theend edge of'the panel 14 and a portion ofthe surface of the panel 11. 1f the corner is oppositely formed, the corner beadv may be inverted so that the: longer flange covers the butt joint between the two par els, After the corner bead has been placed in ppsitio the tool B is placed over the bead and an inward fprceiis, exerted against the corner tending to press both flanges of the corner bead against; the relative panels. While thispressure, is being applied, the handles 41 and 46 are: pivoted or swung apart bringing the crimping aws against the panels and causing them to dig into the panels until the, carved surfaces of the jaws engage the edges of thefflanges 1 7 and 19. Continuing pivotal movement of th iaws causes the jaws. to cut into the edges of the flanges forming. transverse tongues 23 and 24 which extend into the panels to clinch the corner beads against the panels. Usually the tongues 23. and 24, are bent at substantially right angles to the panels from which they struck, thelends of the tongues being further curved inwardly beyond the right angular relation to firmly clinch, the corner bead in'place.

In preferred form, the tool forms twopairs of tongues simultaneously, the tongues of the pairs being spaced apart, a substantial distance as, for example, six inches. The tool may thenjbe moved upwardly or downwardly from the first position and two more pairs of tongues may be produced. Preferably, the tool is so moved that the pairs of tongues are located at intervals of perhaps-five or six inches throughout the length of the corner bead so as to firmly -attach the corner bead in place and to insure the close relationship between the corner bead and the panels throughout the length of the bead;

It will be seen that by this means a corner bead may be firmly anchored to the corner to form a plaster ground and the attachment may be made in a time considerably less than the time usually employed to butter" the joint and adhere the plaster ground'in place and in a time considerably less than thatrequired to nail the plaster ground in place. Each operation of the tool is the equivalent of inserting fournails through the corner bead and the resultsare much better in view of the fact that the corner bead is held from distortion by the body of the toolduring the attaching operation. 7

Obviously, the tool may be applied with additional pairs of crimping jaws, but twospairs produce an effective-tool which is light in weight andsimple to handle. Tools have been produced with a single pair of'jaws and such tools operate effectively, but require more time to complete the crimping operation,

In applying the corner bead structure as herein described the tool is preferably modified with a retractable locator plug or pin 48 which when sliding the tool over a corner bead-aligns itself in an aperture 48; to properly space the inner face 49 of crimping jaw 47 in alignment-with the spaced tongues 23 and'24. These tongues'are provided by perforating or slitting the flange along the side edges of'the tongues, as may be illustrated by 19 inFigure 2. In this respect for" crude work the perforated or cut tongue edges are a critical; factor in obtaining a neatly installedcorner. I

As-shown in-Figureo, this locator pin 48' isa-retractable cap with outwardly flared sides 52 seated within the inwardly shaped sides 53 of plug 54. The plug 54 is wedged into the aperture 55 provided in flange 26 by means of a plurality of soft metal ribs 56. The retractable pin 48 is normally held in extended position by one or more springs 57 and in its close but spaced position from the apex of the tool. This readily engages pin 48 in the aligning aperture 48 to properly position the tool for a crimping operation, as described. This crimping tool forces and draws thecorner beads and insulation into a solid and tight fitting corner.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my corner beaiapplying-apparatus, and-whilel have endeavored to set forth the. best embodiment thereof, I desire to have itunderstood that obvious changes, may be. made within the scope, of the following claims without departing from the pi it of my in ention...

l.-. A, o l for: app ng a; cornenbcad. to. a, wall corner, the corner bead havinggener ally right angular flanges nd. an, o w r ly pr j c ing; onne t g head, the tool including a right. angular body'designed to overlie the. corner bead; flanges, a groove in said, angular body designed to accommodate the head; of said corner bead, a pair of clinching levers pivoted to opposite sides of said body, andcr-imping jaws on said leversdesigned tostrike tongues; from the flanges of the corner bead and bend themnto, the wall. I V

J 2. A toolfor use in attaching a corner bead to a wall corner, the, corner bead having generally right angular flanges and a connecting bead, the tool including a body having right angular body. portions designed, to lie flush against the surfaces of the corner bead, and a pair of clinching levers hingedly. connected to said body near opposite sides thereof, said levers including jaws pivotal from a position outwardly of the planes of the surfaces of the body portion to, a. position at substantially right anglesto the planes of the. body portions, and inwardly thereof, whereby said jaws may strike tongues from said flanges. and force them into, the wall, corner in clinching relation thereto. I

3 The structure described in claim 2 and in which said tool includes 'a' plurality of pairs of clinching levers.

4. The structure described in claim 2 and in which the tool includes-a plurality of connected clinching levers pivotally connectedon aligned axes to each body portion.

5 The structure describedin claim 2 and in which each body portion supports a plurality of pairs of clinching levers connected for operation in unison about aligned axes, and including a handle member connected to the clinching levers supported by each body portion.

6. An apparatus for attaching a corner bead to a wall corne hew-t i r. ea aving an larfr la d fl ng sa d an outward projecting connecting head, the apparatus hs l ih a qdy portio ha ng gularly related flanges leas ed. to eng ge in sur ace; cont c h he flang s. of the corner bead and said body being recessed between said surfaces-to accommodate said bead, the flanges including opposednotches in their outer. edges, a crimping lever pivotally connected to. each flange of said body, and parallel pivots connecting said levers to said flanges, said-levers inpluding crimping jawszpivotalfrom aposition outwardly of the planes of said flanges: to.a position at substantially right angles. to said flanges and inwardly therefrom, said jaws being. curved to extend inwardly toward one another beyond rightangular-relation to said flanges. I

References Citedin the fileof this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS 427,071 Gilbert May 6; 1890 427,230 Gilbert May 6, 1890 "1,264,812 Klauern Apr. 30, 1918 2041,7994: Walper 'May"26.' 1936 

